We had a Human chain today from Sarjapur junction to ITPL to express solidarity for the Jan Lokpal Bill from the ‘IT Community’. Im not sure how much of all this bill being passed is actually going to trickle down to lower levels of Goverment Officials – when it comes to Passport offices, Govt offices etc; I dont even want to get into the amount of bribery that happens in BWSSB,BBMP and such offices for really small work! So, will this bill really be helpful to us – we can only hope atleast in the long run – where we have a common body where we can atleast complain and some action will be taken upon our complaints… Hope For the Best.

Yes, most everyone I know are cynics – they did not want to join in the chain and neither did they support the bill! According to them – 1 person not joining in is not going to make a difference! As for me – I believe in ‘Little Drops of Water makes a mighty ocean” – When we crib about nothing being done, sitting inside AC offices and cribbing about the amount of money we had to pay for a passport renewal – why cant we oppose it? Isnt that what all this expressing solidarity all about? when we dont want to even stand in the sun(Its a cloudy day today,by the way) for 1/2 hr how can we expect any changes to happen?

Leaving you with the mail that was sent to us:

PS: FEW DETAILS ABOUT ANNA HAZARE AND JANLOKPAL BILL

See how Lokpal Bill can curb the politicians, Circulate it to create awareness:

Dear All,

Please go through the details carefully & try to be part of this mission against corruption. Things to know about Anna Hazare and Lok pal Bill: 1. Who is Anna Hazare? An ex-army man(Unmarried). Fought 1965 Indo-Pak War. 2. What’s so special about him? He built a village Ralegaon Siddhi in Ahamad Nagar district, Maharashtra 3. This village is a self-sustained model village. Energy is produced in the village itself from solar power, biofuel and wind mills. In 1975, it used to be a poverty clad village. Now it is one of the richest village in India. It has become a model for self-sustained, eco-friendly & harmonic village. 4. This guy, Anna Hazare was awarded Padma Bhushan and is a known figure for his social activities. 5. He is supporting a cause, the amendment of a law to curb corruption in India. 6. How that can be possible? He is advocating for a Bill, The Lok Pal Bill (The Citizen Ombudsman Bill), that will form an autonomous authority who will make politicians (ministers), bureaucrats (IAS/IPS) accountable for their deeds. 7. It’s an entirely new thing right..? In 1972, the bill was proposed by then Law minister Mr. Shanti Bhushan. Since then it has been neglected by the politicians and some are trying to change the bill to suit their theft(corruption). 8. Oh.. He is going on a hunger strike for that whole thing of passing a Bill ! How can that be possible in such a short span of time? The first thing he is asking for is: the govt should come forward and announce that the bill is going to be passed. Next, they make a joint committee to DRAFT the LOK PAL BILL. 50% government participation and 50% public participation. Bcoz u can’t trust the govt entirely for making such a bill which does not suit them. 9. What will happen when this bill is passed? A LokPal will be appointed at the centre. He will have an autonomous charge, say like the Election Commission of India. In each and every state, Lokayukta will be appointed. The job is to bring all alleged party to trial in case of corruptions within 1 year. Within 2 years, the guilty will be punished. Pass this on n show ur support..

The Government has put condition to get 25 crore people to support JanLokPal. To give your support call 02261550789 (as given by Kiran Bedi) from your mobile no. Your Call will disconnect after 1 ring and your no registered automatically. You will get an SMS confirming this. Do it along to all your friends. Forward to as many people as you know .. verbally, by mails, by messages. Support Anti-corruption campaign lead by Anna Hazare …

I shall begin from 14th – Saturday when the actual preparation for cousin’s wedding began -I mean for me! Lots of activities had been happening over the past 3 months while we were getting updates on the phone we never did get involved completely (which Im still regretting) due to time constraints.

You wont believe that I got Rs.10000 worth voucher for a high end parlor/spa here – something like a scratch card and that too 2 of them! So, I asked my co-sister (more friend) to join me for the parlor session before the wedding. And the entire day 14th was spent there! The head massage was awesome but the back and foot massage was nothing to speak of 😦 Didnt really get any relief. And I realised that no matter what I can never really relax with goop on my face or during the massage which effectively negates all the good things the facial is supposed to do to you. Im always uncomfortable and cold! So, no matter what everyone advocates – a full body massage is out of question for me!!

Hubby had finally got the evening free and had booked for ZNMD – and I LOVED it. Havent laughed in a movie so much in ages! Thoroughly enjoyed it. Must watch, must watch.My one dream of learning to ride a bike was rekindled after seeing Katrina Kaif.

MIL’s sister is visiting from the US and since all sisters wanted to meet at 1 place. I had invited 5 sisters for lunch on the 15th. And it was so stressful – not because of them – they are all sweethearts and loved the simple bisibele bhaat, papad, jamoon,rice, rasam and curd rice menu but because of Chutku – he had some insect bite and had his entire left eye swollen shut. He was in a very cranky mood and was non-stop crying the whole morning which meant that hubby couldnt help me a single bit. And the cook who came at 7am said she had to leave by 7.30 didnt finish anything to take her kids to Aug 15th celebrations in the school!! So, it was just me again. And did I mention that the maid has quit too?!!

Evening we had an invite at an ex-collegue, more friend’s house for what he calls high-tea. So, we first went to the hospital, got medicine for Chutku and then went to friends house for a lovely tea with Samosa,cutlet,sandwich and kheer! Yuuummmmmmyyyyy. We knew he is a good cook but wife’s amazing too! Wish my hubby took so much interest in cooking 😦 And since we had already g iven 1 dose of medicine to the little fellow he was quite comfortable and was playing around – all’s well that ends well!

17th and 18th – full wedding running around – playing dress-up and acting busy! 1 thing that I have to mention here that we managed to video chat through skype with all the cousins settled in US/UK and show them the festivities, made them talk to the elders and in-all somehow got them to participate in the wedding! 🙂 That was a first time for us and we enjoyed thoroughly…

21st – Final lunch hosted by us – the grooms side and we had amazing games organised. And dressed up Chutku like Krishna (thankfully by 17th the swelling on his eye had reduced and he was feeling much better) as it was Janmashtami and had yummy food again. I must;ve put on a couple of Kgs of weight with all those Ras Malais and Jamoons and pheNis…

And its so borrriiinnnngg to get back to work today that Im still missing all those activities and recollecting the food.Sigh! And this is the last of the weddings of couins for a long time to come…

So many things have happened over the last 1 week that I have written atleast 5 posts in my head but havent had the time to put them here. Before I give all the updates – here’s the saree I wore for the reception – “Bombay style” the beautician called it. It was so different and comfortable that I loved it. And I had everyone asking me how she draped it – though I still have no clue. All that I can say is there were 6 safety pins in strategic positions *ahem* to keep the saree in place even while I handled the little squirmy fellow. AND I still think that its making me look fat. And the makeup that I had done myself, though I dont know how bhootni I looked – gave me rashes by the end of the evening.That was when I realised that my products were all about 6yrs old when I bought them for my own wedding which was lying around unused. So, the next day it all went to the dustbin with no second thoughts.So, Im back to being me – plain jane 🙂 Now you all tell me how this looks… After all the questions I asked…

Straight to the point – I have a first cousin wedding to attend and Im not able to decide which one to wear – So all you fashionistas help me pleaaassseee??? Tell me which one to wear for an evening reception?

The first one is a raw silk saree with thread work border and pallu and sits pretty stiff while the second one is a brocade silk and like hubby says its a little ‘jing-chack’.

So what do y’all think?Let me know soon.The reception is on thursday!!

Its been years since I just carry a wallet anywhere. And now after Chutku there is just no space in a wallet for everything that I need to keep! So on any given day a peek into my purse looks like this:

My Driver’s License (Dreams of driving some day)House keys – These came into picture only now after we shifted home and I now realise what a big responsibility it is! Umbrella – These days, travelling by bus with Chutku.Occassionally a milk bottle if he hasn’t eaten anything in the evening.Oh! Chutku’s nail cutter – yes I cut his nails in the car in the mornings when I can keep him well distracted…

And whenever anyone asks me for something – I pull out tissues/hand sanitzer for In-Laws or something to eat for Hubby – No wonder hubby calls it my magic purse – I keep pulling stuff out of it as required 😀

I’ve written about Chutku’s first trip to he zoo and on the way back how we went to Raman’s house for Tea. Well, her house is itself fodder for a Home Decor post but I will not dwell into that here…

She has a teenage son who studies in a school close by and on the way she showed us the school and the huge mall that has opened up just a few streets away from the school. And then she said ” I told him that he can aaraamse get his girlfriend here for movies and coffee”.

And then today I met another friend who said his mom is very cool about his marriage and insists that he will have to find his own girl, be in a relationship and then decide if he wants to take it further!

And in both the cases I was wondering if I have become old-fashioned already. When Raman mentioned about her son my thought was – “No way! Girlfriend in school,movies and coffee in mall? – I dont think I would be happy about Chutku doing any of these” And in the second case – “No way! Love and girlfriend is fine but Im not so sure about live-in before marriage yet”. Where as I think Chutku’s Dad will be more acceptable of these situations more than me.

That was when I realised that maybe I AM going to be an uncool Mom. I just hope that Chutku will not see them as constraints but as some rules that needs to be implemented to help make him a better person. I think that girlfriends and movies in school is too young! And the concept of live-in has somehow never been very appealing for the only reason that it doesnt really *bind* the 2 people to make the relationship work! If you DO want to live-in you can as well get married? Hmmm? This has got me thinking…Or am I still stuck somewhere between today and 10 years in the past?

On a much lighter note – The little fellow gave me my first flower 🙂 And I want to record that here… He picked up a flower kept at the main door, came in search of me calling ‘Amma,Amma’ – bypassed his Dad who kept asking him what happened,came straight to me in the kitchen and opened his palm to reveal a jasmine flower.And that made my day on sunday 😀

The day care organised a 1 day outing to Bannerghatta national park on saturday for all the kids and their parents. And as expected some (half) of them dropped out while the other half of us enthu cutlets all geared up to take the kids. So, instead of sleeping in on saturday – hubby left for work at 7am while I got ready to take the little fellow to the zoo.I got picked up at 10.30 and we reached there by 11.30am. Looked like the parents were more excited than the few kids who could actually walk and talk and identify the animals. By the time we took the tickets and went in it was almost 12.15 and time for kids to have their lunch and then ours, session that lasted until 1.45. Thankfully the weather was good with no sun and cool breeze, so off we went to see the animals.

The highlights:

The peacock cage had about 10peacocks and 1 of them was always preening with all its feathers spread for all the visitors – It was sooo beautiful. I wondered if anything could match the beauty of the peacock blue – so rich and vibrant -no material can even come close to that.We saw quite a few leopards and cheetahs and loads of deer. You ask Chutku what the deer was doing, he will say ‘Mumm mumm’ – it was eating lunch. He refused to be carried and wanted to walk by himself – which would’ve been great if he wanted to walk with everyone else and not run in the opposite direction, in slush (it had rained the entire previous night) and didn’t want to see anything except people! So, I had to keep carrying him and putting him down and by the end of the day I had a horribly aching back.

The little fellow, I realised, is one scaredy cat! There was just 1 sad Zebra in a huge enclosure that came close to be fed – and though I was carrying Chutku he jumped and screamed and asked me to move back! And then we saw the elephant – he hurriedly got into my arms,refused to get down and he didn’t want me to go any closer either. He kept watching the trunks of the 2 elephants and every time it touched someone else also – he kept flinching! 😀 It was quite amusing to see his reactions. We then came to the birds and since he keeps finding for ‘Pacchi’ everyday in the sky I thought he would like it. He kept watching all the birds with wide eyes and open mouth and kept pointing them to me – it gave me so much pleasure!

By the time we started from there at 3, he was so exhausted that he slept in the hands of Ramandeep – the daycare owner in the front seat until we reached her home where we stopped for a quick coffee/tea break.By the time I got down at my stop it was ready to pour again and I ran most of the way carrying him, home.

Once at home, I sat down with him and watched the rain pour in peace. In all it was a day well spent though I know that he wouldn’t remember any of it. Unfortunately I didn’t carry the camera – I knew I wouldn’t be able to click any pics carrying him and his bag…So let me wait until I get some from the others before I post them here 🙂

Things have just been hectic for over a month now with Hubby having to stay back late everyday and work weekends and I come home with Chutku by the office bus. Though I have informed the team and the manager that I would be working from 8am to 5pm and take the 5.15pm bus, the team gives me anything for review only by 4.45/5 in the evening just as I take my bag and start ” You’re leaving? What about my code review/doc review then?” They ask. So invariably there are “not so good vibes” going around at the work place.

As for the home front – (the lesser said the better, but I always talk more na?;-) ) So things are hectic with the maid absconding every other day, the cook spilling oil all over the stove and the floor at 6.30 in the morning and refusing to clean it up. She said she will get late for the next house and wiped all the oil with a tissue and just left! :-O I had to again wipe it all up in fear that one of us might have a nasty fall – especially the little fellow. And then last week there was some issue which needed my clarification at work and I got a call from office as soon as I reached home. The milkman hadnt come that morning and I had bought milk on the way back which needed to be put in the fridge. So, there I was with phone in 1 hand, milk packet in the other to be kept inside and within a fraction of a second Chuktu squeezed in between me and the fridge door,grabbed at a big glass full of milk and… you can imagine the kitchen floor and him. I was totally lost. I first told my manager I will call back, removed the little fellow’s wet clothes, trapped him in the high chair and it took me 30mins to clean up the kitchen floor 2 times with water 😦 So these are the days right now… And it all hit me like a ton of bricks a couple of days back when I get a call again from the manager (after I’ve updated everything to him and left) for some issue that did not really need me and then he said “You are not available”. That snapped something and I felt let down – mostly by myself – wondering how is it that everyone else is able to manage their careers and homes so wonderfully when I cant handle it for even a couple of months. I always thought myself to be very strong – emotionally and mentally.

Now for the small silver linings.

# Hubby saw the effect of all this on me (I broke down on monday) and told me “Lets go on a holiday,so think about it when you feel low 🙂 ‘. Yaay! I know, I KNOW that it will be another month or so before things settle down at work for him and we can even go for a weekend. BUT I have a holiday to plan that will ease my mind AND I can look forward to some nice relaxed days. So, does anyone have any suggestions for 3 day outings from Blore which is also child friendly?

# Since last tuesday until yesterday I had conversations with 3 friends who are all having their own problems. And after talking to me they all said it made them feel better.1 of them pinged me on communicator later:

“R, my heart became lighter,I felt so bad on my meeting..poor guy my husband listened all my scrap stories and said OK..leave it..if not interested leave the job…so my feelings of badness doubled..but speaking to a person travelling in same boat will lighter my feelings…I realized it today.thank you “

And another mailed me:

“Feeling lil relaxed after talking to you. Was so full since morning and worst part is I cant share anything wid my parents also. Tdy whatever we did chit-chat had no conclusion or outcome, still feeling ok today. Was almost dead bfr that. Thanks a lot. U being my friend is gr8 support, this is second time when u really pricked my pain and m reliefed. My C-section became very managable cause ur words were very powerful and encouraging then too. Ur words give power to survive when suffering. Thanks again. Really love u this time.“

Not that I did anything – I only heard them out… But these are my silver lining that gives me some satisfaction and peace that I have been of some help to someone today…